Bass Anglers Information Team 2017 Annual Report

64 North Union Street, Suite 551, Montgomery, Alabama 36130 B.A.I.T. Bass Anglers Information Team 2017 Annual Report

Kyle Bolton Fisheries Biologist

Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Funded in part by the Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program Alabama DJ/WB Project F-38

FISHERIES SECTION OFFICES

MONTGOMERY Nick Nichols, Chief of Fisheries Chris Greene, Asst. Chief of Fisheries Damon Abernethy, Asst. Chief of Fisheries Kyle Bolton, Biologist (Aquatic Habitat) Keith Henderson, Biologist (Boating Access) (334) 242-3471

CONTENTS 2017 B.A.I.T. REPORT DISTRICT I Pickwick, Wilson, Wheeler, Guntersville, Statewide Club Tournament Results » p. 4-5, 13-18 & Bear Creek Lakes

22-30 Phil Ekema, Supervisor Results from 340 tournaments held in Alabama during 2017 Heath Haley, Biologist 21453 Harris Station Rd. Monthly Tournament Stats » p. 6 & 19-21 Tanner, AL 35671 Catches reported for all major reservoirs with at least 10 reports (256) 353-2634

Standardized Electrofishing Results » p. 7-12 DISTRICT II See the results of ADCNR’s bass population surveys Weiss, Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell, Jordan, Harris, Martin, Yates, Other Topics » p. 31 Thurlow, Jones Bluff Tournament Permits, Trailer Tournaments, Catch & Release Michael Holley, Supervisor ADCNR Tournament Website » p. 32 Nathan Hartline, Biologist 1930 Fish Hatchery Rd. Find or post upcoming tournaments for all 45 reservoirs in Alabama Eastaboga, AL 36260 p. 33 (256) 831-6860 **NEW**Online Reporting » Report your catch online DISTRICT III Boating Access » p. 34 Aliceville, Gainesville, Smith, Bankhead, Holt, Find out what’s going on in your area Oliver, Warrior, Demopolis, Tuscaloosa, Inland Habitat Enhancement » p. 35-36 Jay Haffner, Supervisor See the list of recently completed projects Chris McKee, Biologist 8211 McFarland Blvd. Northport, AL 35476 ON THE INTERNET www.outdooralabama.com (205) 339-5716

DISTRICT IV West Point, Harding, Eufaula, Gantt, Point A, B.A.I.T. Program… Frank Jackson www.outdooralabama.com/tournaments Ken Weathers, Supervisor Limits and Regulations… Rob Andress, Biologist Graves Lovell, Biologist www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing-creel-and-size- 3520 Plaza Dr. limits Enterprise AL 36330 (334) 347-9467 Freshwater Boating Access…

boatramps.dcnr.alabama.gov DISTRICT V Big Creek Lake, Claiborne, Coffeeville, Tournament Listings… Miller’s Ferry, Mobile Delta www.outdooralabama.com/tournaments Dave Armstrong, Supervisor Interactive map with habitat structure Tommy Purcell, Biologist 30571 Five Rivers Blvd. locations & more… Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (251) 626-5153 conservationgis.alabama.gov/dcnr/

Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries • Fisheries Section • 64 N. Union St. Suite 551, Montgomery, AL 36130 • (334) 242-3471

2017 B.A.I.T. Summary

Bass fishing in the State of Alabama has remained excellent for the past several years.

During 2017, four of five quality indicators improved over the previous year (Average Bass

Weight: increased 3%, Percent Success: increased 0.23%, Bass/Angler-Day: remained at 3.5,

Pounds/Angler-Day: increased 2.4%, and Hours to catch a 5lb. Bass decreased 13% ). All five quality indicator values (percent success, average weight, number of bass per angler-day, pounds per angler-day and number of hours to catch a 5 pounder) were better than the 30 year average.

The number of 8 lb. bass caught increased from 25 in 2016, to 29 in 2017, despite the fact that the number of fishing hours decreased by 28%. Although the larger Tennessee River impoundments have always been traditional angler favorites, Wilson has turned the most heads recently, finishing No. 1 overall the past four years in the Quality Indicator Ranking. Jordan was 2nd overall, jumping up from last year where it ranked 12th overall.

 Wilson remained on top in the overall quality indicator rankings.

 Jordan and Millers Ferry both showed considerable improvement in the quality indicator rankings, both moving up 10 spots. The Mobile Delta also moved up 8 spots while Smith (down 15), Weiss (down 6) and Logan Martin (down 6) fell in the overall rankings.

 Wilson, Jordan, Mitchell, Millers Ferry and Wheeler were the top five lakes in the overall quality indicator rankings.

 Pickwick, Wilson, Eufaula, Guntersville and Wheeler were the top five big bass lakes in Alabama. . 2017 Statewide B.A.I.T. Statistics

14.35 – Average winning weight (5 fish) 3.47 – Number of bass caught per angler-day 7.46 – Pounds of bass caught per angler-day 2.16 – Average weight of bass caught 229 – Hours required to catch a 5 pound bass 10.92 – Weight of the largest bass caught 29 – Number of bass 8 pounds and larger 419 – Number of bass 5 pounds and larger

1 Introduction & Methods

The printing of the 2017 B.A.I.T. Annual Report marks the 32nd for accuracy and entered into a computer database. Club officers are year of the B.A.I.T. Program. The objective of the program since its contacted when data are suspected to be erroneous. We compile and inception has been to gather information on bass populations by analyze the data following receipt of December tournament reports. combining the efforts of bass club members and state fisheries Statewide tournament results are sorted by reservoir and by club. biologists. The B.A.I.T. Program summarizes catch data on reservoir To rank reservoirs, five “fishing quality” indicators were used: bass populations that are collected and provided to us by participating percent of successful anglers (percent of anglers with one or more bass clubs. This information is used by state fisheries biologists in at weigh-in), average bass weight, number of bass per angler-day, combination with data from other sources as a basis for fisheries pounds of bass per angler-day, and hours required to catch a bass five management decisions. Bass anglers use the report to establish future pounds or larger. Since the length of a fishing day varies between tournament sites, or to locate a reservoir that provides a particular type tournaments, an angler-day is defined as one angler fishing for ten of fishing. hours. In this report, an angler-day may simply be referred to as a Through 2017, we have summarized 15,117 tournament reports. “day” of fishing. A minimum of five tournaments for an individual Anglers have spent 3,476,340 hours collecting data for this program. reservoir is considered necessary for minimum confidence in each They have contributed data from 928,561 bass that weighed 1,748,989 reservoir dataset. Reservoirs with five or more tournament reports are pounds. ranked for each of the quality indicators. Values are assigned to each This report also contains information related to the Alabama rank and an overall rank is determined for each reservoir by summing Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries’ Boating Access the values of the five quality indicators. This ranking system is intended Maintenance and Development Program which maintains 114 boating to be a quick reference for club tournament site selection. It does not access areas statewide. Information regarding the Habitat constitute a “best and worst” list of Alabama reservoirs and should not Enhancement and Restoration Team (HEART) program is also be interpreted that way. included. The accomplishments made by these programs during 2017 Tournament results were also broken down by month for each may be of particular interest to tournament bass anglers and their reservoir with 10 or more reports. This section was intended to aid organizations. clubs in scheduling tournaments since the quality of fishing can vary Every year, we attempt to maintain the support of the previous considerably from one season to the next on any given reservoir. It year’s clubs and to enlist the support of new clubs through public also allows anglers to better understand their chances of achieving a meetings, news releases and letters. Participating club officers or particular goal (i.e., catching a big bass) on a given lake by studying in tournament directors are sent the previous year’s annual report and detail how anglers performed during each month of the year. When tournament report postcards to be completed following each studying this section of the report, be aware that some months are tournament. Clubs are assigned individual numbers to insure represented by only one tournament, which may not be a good confidentiality. As tournament cards are received, they are checked indicator of the overall quality of fishing during that month.

B.A.I.T. TOURNAMENT

REPORT

Club name: Backlash Bass Club Club rep.: Damon Abernethy Street: 64 N. Union St. Phone: 555-555-5555 City: Montgomery Reservoir: Jordan State: AL Zip: 36104 Launch site: Bonners Point

TOURNAMENT DATE TOURNAMENT TYPE TOURNAMENT RULES NUMBER CAUGHT Date Month Day Year Format: Team Fishing time: 7.50 hrs. Largemouth: 10 Start: 4 14 2016 Day or Night: Night Creel limit: 5 bass Spotted: 35 End: 4 14 2016 Weigh-in: Team Size Limit: 12 in. Smallmouth: 0

Total number of anglers and/or teams: 12 Total number of bass caught: 45 No. of anglers/teams w ith 1 or more bass: 12 Total number of bass released: 43 No. of anglers/teams w ith limits: 6 No. over 5 lbs: 2 ; over 8 lbs: 0

Total w eight of bass: 99.00 lbs. 2 oz. Big bass w eight: 10.00 lbs. 4 oz.

NOTE: Format should be: TEAM, DRAW, or SOLO Winning w eight: 15.00 lbs. 6 oz. Weigh-in should be: TEAM or INDIVIDUAL Example B.A.I.T. Report Card

2 3 Statewide Tournament Results

Bass clubs submitted 339 tournament reports during 2017, down Average catch rates in 2017 for number of fish caught per angler/day from 466 in 2016 (Tables 1 and 3). Club representatives did a fine job (3.5) mirrored 2016’s value, while pounds per angler/day increased 0.2 from filling out the cards and no reports were rejected due to incomplete or 2016. Compared to 2016, fifteen lakes improved in overall fishing success erroneous information. We want to thank the participants of the B.A.I.T. in 2017. Most notably, Jordan and Millers Ferry each move up 10 spots into Program and urge them to keep up the good work! Forty-four clubs the top 5 in the overall rankings (Table 2). The Mobile Delta moved up 8 provided data in 2017. Forty-nine reports from Alabama spots overall, and ranked 2nd for the number of bass per angler/day. Pounds waters were received per angler/day caught Alabama’s Top 10 Tournaments from Fisheries Biologist from the Delta (8.23) For Big Bass in 2017 Clint Peacock of this year was 46% CLUB LAKE DATE No. ≥5lbs. Georgia DNR, who above the 32 year summarizes tournament BFL Bama Division Guntersville Mar. 4 21 average. Average Hawg Wild Bass Tour Eufaula Mar. 4-5 15 data from the Georgia Alabama BASS Nation Eufaula Mar. 11 15 weights for Jordan Bass Federation; and Fishers of Men Pickwick Mar. 25 14 (2.51 lbs.), Martin Alabama Bass Trail Guntersville Jun. 10 12 another 46 reports were BFL Choo-Choo Division Guntersville Feb. 18 10 (1.64 lbs.), and received from Fisheries Alabama Bass Trail Eufaula Mar. 18 10 Pickwick (2.81 lbs.) all Ala-Tenn Bass Club Wilson Mar 11 9 Biologist Stan Crider, Alabama Bass Nation Guntersville May 13 9 reached record highs. with the Mississippi Boyd’s Marine Tournament Trail Eufaula Mar. 4 8 The statewide average

Department weight was 2.16 lbs. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Without their support, several Alabama Most 2017 reports were received from Pickwick (54), Mobile Delta reservoirs would not have been well represented in the quality indicator (38), Eufaula (30) and Guntersville (27), accounting for 44% of reports. rankings (Table 2). Once again, we must stress that reports from more Martin had 23, while Jones Bluff, Lay, Logan Martin and Mitchell each had locations increase the capability of the summaries to reflect actual fish 14 or more reports (Table 1). The other 21 reservoirs contributed 31% of population conditions and not just a good or poor day's fishing by one or the total for 2017. A good distribution of reports provides more robust two clubs. statistics from which accurate summaries can be prepared.

All club In 2017, Alabama’s Top 10 Tournaments representatives tournament reports For Single-Day Winning Weight in 2017 were received from 30 should understand CLUB LAKE DATE WEIGHT that every report is bodies of water that were fished 105,114 BFL Bama Division Guntersville Mar. 4 40.69 lbs. important to the

Alabama Bass Trail Wheeler Feb. 25 30.59 lbs. continued success of hours. B.A.I.T. anglers Alabama Bass Trail Guntersville Jun. 10 30.45 lbs. caught 36,784 bass that Fishers of Men Pickwick Mar. 4 30.07 lbs. the B.A.I.T Program. Pickwick Winter Bass Trail Pickwick May 20 29.35 lbs. Of the 30 weighed 79,296 lbs. Alabama Bass Trail Eufaula Mar. 18 28.85 lbs. (Table 1). A total of 419 Alabama Bass Federation Guntersville Feb. 25 28.56 lbs. reservoirs from

Pickwick Winter Bass Trail Pickwick Jan. 28 28.11 lbs. which reports were bass five pounds and Pickwick Winter Bass Trail Pickwick Dec. 16 26.52 lbs. larger were reported for Pickwick Winter Bass Trail Pickwick Dec. 2 26.39 lbs. received, 19 had five an overall catch rate of or more tournament one bass five pounds or larger for every 229 hours of fishing. Tournament reports (Table 1). The following comments deal with these reservoirs, which anglers weighed in 29 bass eight pounds and larger in 2017. The largest are ranked by quality indicators in Table 2. The percent of successful bass caught in 2017 came from Pickwick, and weighed 10.92 pounds. With anglers (those with one or more fish) ranged from 49% at Holt to 95% at 115 bass weighing five pounds or larger, Pickwick led this category. Eufaula Logan Martin. The average weight of bass caught ranged from 1.37 pounds was next in line with 100 big bass over five pounds. at Bartlett's Ferry to 2.81 pounds at Pickwick (Table 1). Catch rates Of the 44 organizations that submitted data during 2017, 60% expressed as bass per angler-day ranged from 2.6 at Smith to 4.9 at Martin. submitted five or more tournament reports, and 30% submitted 10 or more Catch rates as pounds per angler-day ranged from 4.65 at Bartlett’s Ferry to reports. Twelve contributors submitted only one report. A list of contributing 11.1 at Jordan. The statewide average winning weight for a single day 5 fish clubs for the 2017 B.A.I.T. Report is presented in Table 4. sack was 14.35 pounds, up a half pound from last year.

4 Statewide Tournament Results

Overall, Wilson accumulated more quality indicator points (77) than Length limits remained in effect during 2017 on West Point (14-inch any other reservoir in Alabama, keeping the top spot for the fourth MLL on largemouth), Eufaula (14-inch MLL on largemouth), Demopolis (14- consecutive year. Jordan (72), Mitchell (65), Millers Ferry (65), and Wheeler inch MLL on all black bass), Little Bear Creek (13- to 16-inch slot on (64) rounded out the top five (Table 2). largemouth), Smith (13- to 15-inch slot on all black bass), Harris (13- to 16- Readers should note that the primary intent of Table 2 is not to inch slot on largemouth), Pickwick (15-in. MLL on largemouth or smallmouth determine the overall “best” reservoir, but to characterize the fishery of bass), Wilson (15-in. MLL on smallmouth bass), Wheeler (15-in. MLL on each reservoir. Anglers should first review the quality indicator that is most smallmouth bass), and Guntersville (15-in. MLL on smallmouth and important to them. The overall rating would be used to narrow choices. For largemouth bass). No more than five of the daily creel limit of 10 black bass example, if an angler wanted to have the best chance to catch a bass may be smallmouth bass. greater than 5 pounds, then Pickwick, Wilson or Eufaula would be good The graphs throughout this report provide a historical record of how choices. Clubs interested in having all its members catch good quality your favorite waters have performed in the B.A.I.T. Program. A few words of stringers would look at the pounds per angler-day rankings to find that caution - these graphs are not restricted to bodies of water with five or more Jordan, Wilson, and Millers Ferry offered the best opportunity. If catching tournaments. Data points for some years may be represented by only a few lots of bass is important, then Martin, Mobile Delta, or Millers Ferry again tournaments. However, those situations are restricted to water bodies that might be the best destination based upon their bass per angler-day have not been included in the quality indicator rankings in Table 2. These rankings. graphs can be used to predict future fishing quality by looking for trends. Bass data, as expressed in the B.A.I.T. report from reservoirs with Bass fishing in Alabama has been excellent in recent years. Members harvest restrictions or length limits, will be biased since the data is a function of the BAIT program have a unique opportunity to contribute valuable of the restrictions. Length limits are imposed to increase the number of fish biological data that helps make our bass fishery one of the best in the below a minimum length or within a specified length range (slot limit) which country. BAIT members realize the value of this program, and we should eventually result in a greater supply of bass above the limit. Because appreciate the individuals that provides their tournament catch data. all minimum lengths and length ranges will be above the 12-inch limit self- Good luck fishing, and don’t forget to take a child with you and imposed by most tournaments, the restrictions will reduce the total harvest in introduce him or her to your sport. They are our future anglers and stewards numbers and possibly pounds. However, those fish weighed in will be larger of Alabama’s resources. (longer) by virtue of the minimum length (MLL) or slot limit. In the B.A.I.T.

Report, length limit lakes should rank high for average weight and near the Bass Over Eight Pounds from 2017 B.A.I.T. bottom for percent success and bass per angler-day. Reports

Date Organization Lake Big Fish

Oct. 7 Ram Open Series*** Pickwick 10.92 Mar. 11 Alabama Bass Trail Pickwick 10.36*

Lake Records Set in 2017 (Lakes with 5 or more Jan. 28 Pickwick Winter Bass Trail*** Pickwick 9.65 (32 Year History of B.A.I.T. Reporting) reports) Mar. 4 BFL Bama Division Guntersville 9.56* 2017 Lake Apr. 1 Ram Open Series*** Pickwick 9.56 Waterbody Record Value Average Feb. 25 Alabama Bass Trail Wheeler 9.47 Apr. 8 Ala-Tenn Bass Club Pickwick 9.25 Jones Bluff Pounds Per Angler-day 7.95 4.49 Apr. 28 Marietta Bassmasters** Guntersville 9.01 Jordan Average Weight 2.51 1.94 Jan. 28 Pickwick Winter Bass Trail*** Pickwick 8.75 Jordan Bass Per Angler-day 4.42 2.93 Dec. 2 NBT GA/AL District Eufaula 8.49* Jordan Pounds Per Angler-day 11.10 5.71 May 13 Ala-Tenn Bass Club Wheeler 8.38 Lay Bass Per Angler-day 4.04 2.88 Feb. 18 BFL Choo-Choo Division Guntersville 8.31* Mitchell Bass Per Angler-day 4.46 3.05 Mar. 11 Alabama BASS Nation Eufaula 8.16 Mitchell Pounds Per Angler-day 8.69 5.44 Mar. 18 Alabama Bass Trail Eufaula 8.05 Mobile Delta Bass Per Angler-day 4.69 2.80 Dec. 2 Pickwick Winter Bass Trail*** Pickwick 8.02 Mobile Delta Pounds Per Angler-day 8.23 4.47 Pickwick Average Weight 2.81 2.40 * Indicates two or more bass over eight pounds weighed in Pickwick Hrs. to Catch a 5lb. Bass 80 262 **Submitted by GADNR ***Submitted by MDWFP

5 Monthly Tournament Stats

In this section, reservoirs with at least 20 reports are discussed in pounds. Spotted bass comprised 68% of the catch. All five quality detail and the monthly tournament results listed in Table 6 are frequently indicators declined from 2016, forcing Martin to drop 4 spots in the 2017 referenced. This table provides monthly catch information for all overall rankings, however, Martin still ranked 1st in the number of bass reservoirs with at least 10 reports. per angler-day and 2nd in percent success. Each quality indicator value was still above the 32 year average. Eufaula Thirty (30) tournaments were reported during 2017. All months Mobile Delta except January were represented by at least one report with the majority Thirty-eight (38) tournaments were reported in 2017, with most occurring in April (8). One thousand two hundred and five(1,205) anglers occurring in September (6). All months had at least one tournament fished for 10,117 hours to catch 3,236 bass that weighed 8,108 pounds, reported. Nine hundred and fifty-eight (958) anglers fished for 8,428 with an average size of 2.51 pounds. Largemouth bass made up 81% of hours to catch 3,954 bass that weighed 6,934 pounds, with an average the total catch, while spotted bass accounted for 19%. size of 1.75 pounds. Largemouth bass made up 96% of the total catch, The quality of fishing on Eufaula has shown a pattern of while spotted bass accounted for 4%. inconsistency throughout the 32 year history of BAIT reporting, and that Bass per angler-day (4.69) and pounds per angler-day (8.23) both trend has continued into the 2010’s. However, the past six years have set records for the Delta in 2017. Each of these values are over 40% offered quality fishing compared to other reservoirs in the state. higher than average for this waterbody. On average, it took almost a 12 Percent success hit a record high of 85.1% in 2015, up from 83% pound bag to win a tournament. The Delta produced 9 fish over 5 in 2014, dropped significantly in 2016 to 68% and back up to 74% in pounds, and the average big bass weighed nearly 4 pounds. Average 2017. The average sized bass (2.51 lbs.) weighed in by tournament bass weight has been consistent the past three years at almost 1.8 anglers was above the post-LMBV average. Catch-rates of bass larger pounds. In the quality indicators, the Delta ranked 2nd only to Lake than five pounds (112 hours) improved over last year when anglers Martin in the number of bass caught per angler-day. The Delta jumped caught them at a rate of one every 15 days of fishing. In 2014, that value up 8 spots, placing 9th out of 19 overall in 2017’s quality indicator was only 67 hours, an all time low since 1986. rankings. March and April were the most popular fishing months, and comprised half of the tournaments for the year. Months with the lowest Pickwick percent success were October and November (Table 6). Fifty-four (54) tournaments were reported during 2017 (up 4 from a year ago), with the majority being held in April (11) and June (10). Guntersville Otherwise, tournaments were generally dispersed evenly throughout the Twenty-seven (27) tournaments were reported during 2017, with year. Two thousand one hundred and thirty-nine (2,139) anglers fished most tournaments occurring in May and October (6 each). No for 18,078 hours to catch 5,509 bass that weighed 15,474 pounds (the tournaments were reported for January, August and November. One most for 2017), averaging an impressive 2.81 pounds apiece (a record thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight (1,788) anglers fished for for this lake). Largemouth bass comprised 52% of the total catch, 15,321 hours to catch 3,597 bass that weighed 9,860 pounds, with an smallmouth bass accounted for 39% and spotted bass comprised 10%. average size of 2.74 pounds. Largemouth bass accounted for 73% of The percent of anglers who caught at least 1 fish was 80% in the the total catch, while spotted bass comprised 26%. spring months, on average, while summer months showed 84%. The Although the number of tournament reports received declined average big bass weighed 6.82 pounds (the highest for all lakes in 2017). almost 30% from 2016, the number of hours fished only declined 7%. Anglers reported 115 bass over 5 pounds, nine were over 8 pounds. Eighty-five bass were weighed in that were over 5 pounds. Most big Compare this to 2016 where only 58 were reported, but the number of bass were caught in March, with 11 fish weighing 8 pounds or better that hours fished were virtually the same. For the 2nd year in a row, Pickwick month. On average, it would take 17.78 pounds to win a tournament on earned the heaviest average winning weight (19.15 lbs.) of all 30 Guntersville, however, it would take about 25 pounds in February and reservoirs reporting tournaments. March. All five quality indicators were higher than 2016 values, and well above the 32 year average. The number of hours required to catch a 5 Martin pound bass (80) set another 32 year record for Pickwick. On average, it Twenty-three (23) tournaments were reported during 2017. Most usually takes 262 hours to land one. were in November (7). No reports were received May-September. Eight hundred and twenty-one (821) anglers fished for 6,764 hours to catch 3,311 bass that weighed 5,425 pounds, with an average weight of 1.64

6 Standardized Electrofishing Results

The Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries manages 45 public reservoirs through five District Offices. Inside the front cover of this publication, each District Office is listed along with the reservoirs within their area of responsibility. Each reservoir is sampled on a routine basis to monitor the population structure of its sport fish species. These samples are conducted in a standardized manner according to the guidelines of the Alabama Reservoir Management Manual so that changes in population characteristics can be monitored over time. Most reservoirs are sampled on a three year cycle and management recommendations, such as length and creel limits, are determined from this research. There are three key components of the fish population that biologists must characterize in order to make these decisions; they are growth, mortality, and recruitment. Another important non-biological element is bass harvest rates, which is determined through the use of angler creel surveys. These four variables ultimately determine the quality of each fishery, Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries biologists conduct a standardized but all of them are limited by the nutrient levels in each reservoir. Even electrofishing sample on 3-Mile Creek, a Mobile River tributary.

Complex statistical models are developed from these variables that are used to predict how fish populations might respond to changes in the length or bag limits imposed on each reservoir. Over time, these model’s predictive ability can be validated by comparing the predicted effects to the actual fishery responses to the changes in harvest restrictions. In general, harvest restrictions have miniscule impacts unless the rate of fishing mortality approaches or exceeds that of natural mortality because there is little biological justification for protecting fish that are dying primarily of natural causes. Since bass harvest in Alabama is generally very low, few reservoirs have restrictive length limits at this time. However, routine monitoring of bass populations will allow changes in harvest restrictions to be made whenever necessary.

Bass are measured and weighed so that biologists can determine the size structure of the population, growth rates, and relative condition.

with good management, reservoirs with low fertility or poor water quality do not have the potential to produce outstanding fisheries. Depending on the results of these investigations, some management objectives may include the reduction of small bass through the use of slot limits, or increasing the number of larger fish using minimum length limits, which can also reduce the effects of variable recruitment. A careful review of the information in this section reveals certain fishery trends that are reflected in the tournament reporting data. For example, reservoirs that consistently produce good numbers of trophy bass are usually those with populations that exhibit low annual mortality and rapid growth. Conversely, lakes that rarely produce trophy bass are often characterized by slow growth and high annual mortality. Cross-section of an otolith from a 16 year old largemouth bass. Dark bands are formed in winter when cold temperatures reduce growth.

7 Standardized Electrofishing Results

Growth One of the three most important objectives of fisheries biologists’ assessments of a fish population is to determine the growth-rates for the fish being studied. There are many factors that can affect the rate at which fish grow. The most important are prey abundance, size, and nutritional value; and of course, the number of other fish competing with them for those food resources. Other factors include the age and health of the fish, water temperature, and water quality. Obviously, these variables do not remain constant over time, so the assessment represents a snapshot in time and can vary depending upon when the samples were obtained. Biologists determine fish growth-rates by measuring their lengths at each age represented in the sample. This is done by examining the fish’s otoliths, which are free- floating bones in the inner ear that form growth-rings similar to those that are visible on the top of a tree stump. These rings are formed because calcium is deposited at a constant rate no matter how fast the fish is growing. During winter, when the fish is not actively growing, the calcium is deposited in a more concentrated area, and leaves behind a ring once the fish’s growth-rate increases as water temperatures become warmer. Using this technique, biologist’s can easily determine the amount of annual growth since birth, or between two given years. In Alabama, largemouth bass rarely exceed 10 years of age, and relatively few of the fish in these samples include fish greater than 5 years old. In warmer climates, bass grow faster but do not live as long as fish in colder climates. Additionally, a biologist’s ability to impact the size structure of a fish population through the use of length limits is most easily measured by examining the population characteristics of fish that are about to enter the fishery (i.e. those fish becoming available for harvest). Given all of these factors, a good benchmark for the growth-rates of most Southeastern bass populations is the average length of bass at three years of age, which is usually 12 -14 inches. The adjacent bar charts illustrates the results of these studies on the reservoirs that were sampled by Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries biologists during Spring 2016. In order to make good management decisions, growth-rates of bass populations are classified as slow, moderate, or fast. However, it should be noted that growth- rates are only one piece of the fish production puzzle and must be complimented by other desirable population characteristics in order to produce high quality fisheries.

8 Standardized Electrofishing Results

Mortality The second of the three most important objectives in fishery assessments is to determine the mortality rate for the population. Mortality is the death of fish, which can be caused by a wide range of things that include both natural causes, and fishing-related causes. In this section, it is total annual mortality that will be discussed; however, separating natural mortality from fishing mortality is an important step in good fisheries management. Determining the fishing-related component of mortality is the most important, and most difficult, task that a fisheries biologist faces. Documenting the number and size of fish being harvested by anglers is relatively easy to do using angler interviews, but understanding how many fish die following tournaments or catch-and-release is a much more difficult task. The most common way that biologists determine the mortality rate of a fish population is to measure the rate of decline in the number of fish represented in each age group in the collection. For example, from a collection of fish with a mortality rate of 50%, you might expect to see a decline similar to this: Age-1 (100 fish), Age-2 (50 fish), Age-3 (25 fish), Age-4 (13 fish), Age-5 (6 fish), Age-6 (3 fish), Age-7 (2 fish), Age-8 (1 fish). In Alabama, typical annual mortality-rates for largemouth bass range from 35% to 45%, but can vary considerably from one year to the next. Only a small percentage of bass in Alabama populations live to exceed 10 years of age. Typically, less than 1% of bass collected in a standardized reservoir sample will exceed 10 years of age. Even in populations with very low mortality-rates, this figure is usually less than 3%. Minimum length limits are a management tool often considered by biologists if mortality-rates are high; however, they are only effective if a large portion of the total annual mortality can be attributed to fishing-related causes. Limiting angler harvest cannot reduce bass mortality from natural causes. The adjacent chart reflects the total annual mortality rates of largemouth bass populations sampled during Spring 2016. Biologists use this information to help guide them to make management decisions in an effort to improve the quality of fishing. A reduction in mortality-rates following the enforcement of a length limit is an indication that this management action has had a positive influence on the population. Obviously, if fishing-related mortality is low, then length limits will do little to improve the quality of a fishery. 9 Standardized Electrofishing Results

Recruitment The final critical objective in fishery assessments is to determine recruitment of the population into the fishery. This is generally defined in two ways: 1) the number of fish surviving to reach one year of age, or 2) the number of fish surviving to reach harvestable size. The first is important because fish that do not reach 3 to 3 ½ inches before their first winter are less likely to survive to the following spring. The second is important because it is a measure of the percentage of fish that reach sizes large enough to be caught or harvested by anglers. Recruitment can be impacted by density-dependent and/or density-independent factors. Density-dependent factors include population size, fish size and growth characteristics, reproductive fertility, cannibalism, disease, predation, and competition for food. Density-independent factors are non-biological in nature and may include floods, droughts, temperature extremes, excessive wind, and pollution. Obviously, all of these factors can influence one another and may vary considerably over time. Although it is the biological and environmental interactions that have the greatest impact, exploitation (fish removed from the population by angling) can also influence the recruitment potential of a population.

10 Standardized Electrofishing Results

Abundance Another important population variable is the abundance of catchable sized fish in the population. Actual abundance is determined by a wide range of things, which may include survival during critical phases of life, habitat suitability, water quality, fertility, water productivity, competition with other fish, predation, or disease. However, it is also important to remember that a biologist’s assessment of overall abundance is determined from electrofishing samples that are a snapshot in time and may be influenced by temporary environmental conditions during the sample period. Muddy water can prevent a biologist from seeing fish beneath the surface while electrofishing, cold fronts may cause fish to move away from the shoreline, aquatic weeds can hinder their ability to see or capture fish that would ordinarily be collected, fish may be deeper than the reach of the electrical field in extremely clear water, etc. All of these things have the potential to bias estimates of abundance. The number of 8 – 12 inch largemouth bass, and 7 – 11 inch spotted bass, collected per hour of electrofishing is a general indicator of overall population abundance. In Alabama, the majority of samples, statewide, fall within the 11 – 26 fish per hour range for largemouth bass, and 6 – 16 fish per hour for spotted bass. The adjacent chart illustrates these values for samples conducted on public reservoirs during Spring 2016.

11 Standardized Electrofishing Results

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

. .

Days

to catch a a catch to 9

38 35

a 230

107

109 180

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

. .

Hrs. to catch a a catch to Hrs. 93

229

133

264

180

385

234

307

510

391

936

378

571

441

483

170

225

112

126

379

350

2304

1075

1093 1795

Pounds per day per Pounds

7.46

6.05

4.97

9.30

8.49

6.29

8.23

3.21

7.88

5.29

8.56

7.65

8.69

8.80

8.23

8.02

5.68

8.01

7.95

5.46

5.44

6.44

7.62

7.19

9.27

9.75

8.46

3.59

4.65

5.96 11.10

Bass per day per Bass

3.47

3.23

3.27

3.92

4.09

3.41

4.80

2.44

5.31

2.60

3.05

4.23

4.46

4.62

4.69

4.90

3.30

4.04

4.42

4.25

3.54

3.50

2.35

4.04

2.90

4.26

5.29

3.72

2.45

3.39 3.27

least 1 fish) 1 least

(anglers w/ at at w/ (anglers

% success success % 80.32

87.10

82.35

89.74

85.01

89.26

92.00

81.58

77.83

77.05

86.62

91.62

85.61

86.12

91.96

95.27

82.90

88.51

76.62

49.02

68.68

85.71

74.27

85.88

92.31

96.00

82.61

86.15

84.52

100.00 100.00

weight

Avg. winning winning Avg.

9.18

8.00

8.49

9.82

14.35

14.05

18.43

17.16

11.97

13.13

10.69

13.99

19.15

13.21

12.03

14.08

11.93

11.25

11.86

12.72

12.89

12.87

17.78

12.75

17.63

15.10

10.97

14.06

10.15 12.16

weight

Avg. big bass bass big Avg.

4.87

5.23

5.11

5.02

5.60

4.87

4.92

4.57

3.56

4.19

6.82

4.56

4.03

4.13

3.92

4.01

3.89

4.40

3.99

4.23

3.68

6.10

5.69

5.72

4.57

4.88

4.64

4.12

4.22 4.81

Bass over 8lb. over Bass

29 13

Bass over 5lb. over Bass

419

115 100

weight

Avg. bass bass Avg.

2.16

1.87

1.52

2.37

2.07

1.84

1.72

1.31

1.48

2.04

2.81

1.81

1.95

1.90

1.75

1.64

1.72

1.98

2.51

1.87

1.54

1.56

2.74

1.88

2.51

2.18

1.84

2.27

1.46

1.37 1.82

Total lbs. of bass of lbs. Total

161

219

726

192

101

264

343

688

101

532

136

267

417

1205

2437

4399

3703

2802

1032

6934

5425

4078

3937

3169

2456

9860

8108

79296 15474

released alive released

Percent of bass bass of Percent 96

100

100 100

% smallmouth %

2.4

0.0

9.2

0.0

0.9

0.0

12.1 38.7

% spotted bass spotted %

7.9

9.7

4.3

8.2

46.2

31.6

68.1

19.7

45.9

23.2

68.0

26.5

62.6

50.2

73.4

22.5

67.7

68.9

60.8

69.4

69.5

90.9

90.5

26.0

19.1

20.5

26.1

31.1

50.3 19.3

% largemouth %

9.1

9.5

51.4

68.4

31.9

82.9

68.2

54.1

76.8

32.0

73.5

37.4

51.6

49.8

26.6

77.5

95.7

32.3

31.1

39.2

30.6

30.5

73.0

91.8

80.9

79.5

73.9

68.9

49.7 80.7

caught

Total bass bass Total 86

144

508

394

112

542

171

182

316

234

195

229

1176

2157

5509

2046

1438

3954

3311

2371

1987

1263

1314

3597

3236 36784

Total hrs. fished hrs. Total

266

440

234

307

128

483

450

742

104

630

379

575

700

1296

2872

1155

8311

4840

3224

1172

8428

6764

7181

4917

2855

3089

18078

15321

10117 105114

a limit of fish of limit a

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of %

42.4

45.2

29.4

71.8

57.6

35.5

84.0

42.1

68.8

25.4

32.1

59.7

57.9

66.2

62.9

72.2

52.7

54.3

61.8

57.7

20.6

50.0

19.5

57.1

29.0

60.0

76.9

16.0

47.8

27.7 71.4

at least 1 fish 1 least at

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of %

80.3

87.1

82.4

89.7

85.0

89.3

92.0

81.6

77.8

77.0

86.6

91.6

85.6

86.1

92.0

95.3

82.9

88.5

76.6

49.0

68.7

85.7

74.3

85.9

92.3

96.0

82.6

86.2

84.5

100.0 100.0

No. of anglers of No.

156

347

121

583

382

139

958

821

554

532

348

385

102

1015

2139

1788

1205 12159

tournaments

No. of of No. 2

339

a day is defined as one angler fishingfor angler hours as day10 defined one is a

GrandTotal

Yates

West Point West

Wilson

Wheeler

Weiss

Warrior

Upper Bear Upper

Tuscaloosa

Smith

Pickw ick

Neely Henry Neely

Mitchell

Millers Ferry Millers

Mobile Delta Mobile

Martin

Logan Martin Logan

Lay

Jordan

Jones Bluff Jones

Holt

Harris

Guntersville

Gainesville

Eufaula

Demopolis

Coffeeville

Claiborne

Cedar

Bartletts Ferry Bartletts

Bankhead

Lake

Table 1. Statew ide summary of tournaments for bass clubs participating in the 2017 B.A.I.T. Program. B.A.I.T. 2017 the for in of bass tournaments Statewclubs participating 1. summary ide Table a 13

Value

Bartletts Ferry

Holt

Smith

Logan Martin Logan

Bankhead

Guntersville

Eufaula

Jones Bluff Jones

Neely Neely Henry

Weiss

Mobile Delta Mobile

Lay

Martin

Pickwick

Wheeler

Millers Ferry

Mitchell

Jordan

Wilson

Overall

Bartletts Ferry

Smith

Logan Martin Logan

Martin

Mitchell

Mobile Delta Mobile

Jordan

Neely Neely Henry

Holt

Jones Bluff Jones

Millers Ferry

Weiss

Lay

Bankhead

Wheeler

Guntersville

Eufaula

Wilson

Pickwick

Bass > 5 lbs.

Hours per Hours

Bartletts Ferry

Smith

Holt

Logan Martin Logan

Bankhead

Weiss

Guntersville

Eufaula

Neely Neely Henry

Jones Bluff Jones

Lay

Martin

Mobile Delta Mobile

Wheeler

Pickwick

Mitchell

Millers Ferry

Wilson

Jordan

Angler-Day

Pounds Pounds per

Guntersville

Smith

Eufaula

Pickwick

Bankhead

Logan Martin Logan

Bartletts Ferry

Weiss

Holt

Wilson

Lay

Wheeler

Neely Neely Henry

Jones Bluff Jones

Jordan

Mitchell

Millers Ferry

Mobile Delta Mobile

Martin

Angler-Day

Bass per

Bartletts Ferry

Holt

Martin

Logan Martin Logan

Mobile Delta Mobile

Neely Neely Henry

Bankhead

Weiss

Jones Bluff Jones

Millers Ferry

Mitchell

Lay

Smith

Wheeler

Wilson

Eufaula

Jordan

Guntersville

Pickwick

Weight

Average Bass Average

Holt

Guntersville

Eufaula

Jones Bluff Jones

Pickwick

Smith

Lay

Bankhead

Wheeler

Millers Ferry

Mobile Delta Mobile

Bartletts Ferry

Neely Neely Henry

Jordan

Weiss

Wilson

Mitchell

Martin

Logan Martin Logan

Success

Percent

10 Rank

Table 2. Ranking by quality indicators for all reservoirs with five or more tournament reports in the 2017 B.A.I.T. in the reports 2017 Program. tournament more or with five 2. by Ranking quality Table all reservoirs indicators for 14

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

. .

Days

to catch a a catch to 6

48 29

a 315 150

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

. .

Hrs. to catch a a catch to Hrs. 64

162

159

176

182

960

185

426

195

382

221

828

266

353

480

288

3152 1503

Pounds per day per Pounds

a .

3.91

6.36

6.58

7.61

6.68

9.60

9.61

8.98

6.90

6.52

9.19

9.75

9.08

4.61

9.00

8.93

5.68

7.91

7.53

6.72

6.89

7.49

8.90

7.80

4.18

7.55

5.77

5.42

4.33

13.05

10.88

11.60

13.51 10.43

Bass per day per Bass

a .

1.82

3.27

3.01

3.54

3.16

5.75

5.22

5.05

4.77

2.19

3.09

3.51

5.29

4.26

2.56

5.55

4.66

4.38

5.97

4.13

2.03

4.32

4.43

2.43

3.13

4.26

5.48

3.79

3.63

2.89

4.43

3.77

3.11 2.45

least 1 fish) 1 least

(anglers w/ at at w/ (anglers

% success success % 74.31

75.31

86.96

86.60

75.32

96.43

86.50

80.96

51.61

87.81

92.31

87.18

81.69

93.75

87.39

79.41

75.00

84.30

37.90

97.96

92.16

90.73

70.61

63.64

89.82

98.15

84.31

80.00

85.92

94.15

91.26

77.78

79.10

100.00 100.00

weight

. .

Avg. winning winning Avg.

9.40

9.59

15.25

14.99

13.20

17.79

24.17

21.31

15.28

14.69

23.88

14.16

16.35

14.09

13.97

22.60

14.70

21.28

22.33

12.21

12.23

18.64

14.50

16.67

11.31

18.10

16.02

11.93

11.66 11.15

weight

Avg. big bass bass big Avg.

4.50

5.76

4.50

5.53

6.91

3.93

6.09

4.88

4.60

6.25

4.60

5.61

4.88

5.54

4.72

4.19

5.09

7.10

4.30

6.69

6.54

6.90

4.20

4.10

7.52

3.63

5.14

3.61

6.40

4.02

2.87

3.84

3.51

3.45 4.63

Bass over 8lb. over Bass

0 11

Bass over 5lb. over Bass

29 33

weight

Avg. bass bass Avg.

2.15

1.95

2.19

2.15

2.12

1.67

2.50

1.90

1.88

3.14

2.11

2.62

1.84

2.13

1.80

1.96

1.93

2.65

2.26

2.16

2.79

2.72

1.83

1.70

2.77

2.20

1.76

1.90

2.35

2.15

1.44

1.70

1.53

1.74 1.76

bass

Total lbs. of of lbs. Total 97

514

525

115

585

214

241

398

101

971

786

279

878

355

863

836

699

500

260

550

493

499

2264

5104

4137

1845

2831

1248

5180

2380

2095

1134 19444

released alive released

Percent of bass bass of Percent 97

100

100 100

% smallmouth %

0.0

1.6

0.0

4.8

0.0

0.0 11.0

% spotted bass spotted %

5.2

6.7

0.0

8.4

4.9

61.3

37.5

42.9

46.0

26.1

50.0

15.8

25.9

37.1

52.2

13.1

38.7

81.1

93.5

16.7

26.9

26.2

79.2 50.2

% largemouth %

6.5

38.7

62.5

57.1

54.0

73.9

94.8

93.3

50.0

84.2

91.6

72.5

62.9

43.0

86.9

61.3

18.9

84.1

83.3

73.1

73.8

20.8

49.8 100.0

caught

Total bass bass Total 69

264

240

234

970

114

152

455

437

142

455

134

309

307

382

734

263

892

180

666

359

283

1053

2377

1955

1502

8995

1872 1353

Total hrs. fished hrs. Total

808

797

120

448

310

369

434

104

256

976

306

884

480

623

954

909

5792

6706

6192

1920

3152

1069

1704

1520

1656

7704

3177

2354

1503

1153 21784

a limit of fish of limit a

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of % 0.0

10.8

21.0

23.9

56.9

31.8

92.9

58.9

72.2

68.0

38.7

24.4

76.9

63.2

52.6

87.5

73.9

76.5

66.7

62.5

20.5

77.6

58.8

49.8

15.2

45.5

46.9

81.5

61.3

30.0

26.8

56.1

49.5

30.6 20.9

at least 1 fish 1 least at

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of %

74.3

75.3

87.0

86.6

75.3

96.4

86.5

81.0

51.6

87.8

92.3

87.2

81.7

93.8

87.4

79.4

75.0

84.3

37.9

98.0

92.2

90.7

70.6

63.6

89.8

98.1

84.3

80.0

85.9

94.2

91.3

77.8

79.1

100.0 100.0

No. of anglers of No.

724

761

774

237

394

117

213

111

190

102

205

963

324

274

171

103

108

134 2394

tournaments

No. of of No. 6

Club No. Club

a day is defined as one angler fishing for angler dayas hours a defined is one 10 Table 3. Tournament summary for bass clubs participating in the 2017 B.A.I.T. Program. B.A.I.T. 2017 the for in bass summary clubs participating Tournament 3. Table 15 a

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

Days

to catch a a catch to 7

35 21 a

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

Hrs. to catch a a catch to Hrs. 66

229

583

528

456

361

312

352 211

Pounds per day per Pounds

7.46

5.67

8.44

8.49

8.33

6.90

5.27

5.43

5.48 5.63

Bass per day per Bass

3.47

3.20

5.15

5.60

2.98

4.05

3.05

2.65

2.84 3.55

least 1 fish) 1 least

(anglers w/ at at w/ (anglers

% success success % 80.32

86.54

86.36

85.71

76.45

89.43

80.28

78.38

66.82 40.58

weight

Avg. winning winning Avg.

7.51

14.35

10.55

14.75

19.26

10.45

11.27

13.15 12.69

weight

Avg. big bass bass big Avg.

4.87

4.50

5.44

4.75

6.95

3.96

4.50

4.01

4.93 3.31

Bass over 8lb. over Bass

0 29

Bass over 5lb. over Bass

95 419

weight

Avg. bass bass Avg.

2.16

1.77

1.64

1.51

2.80

1.71

1.73

2.05

1.93 1.58

bass

Total lbs. of of lbs. Total

891

380

630

380

509

964

119

4274

79296 12598

released alive released

. .

Percent of bass bass of Percent 96

100

100 100

% smallmouth %

2.4

0.0

2.6 0.0

% spotted bass spotted %

46.2

50.0

51.1

36.7 94.7

% largemouth %

5.3

51.4

50.0

48.9 60.7

caught

Total bass bass Total 75

544

251

369

220

248

499

2414

4507 36784

Total hrs. fished hrs. Total

448

912

721

937

211

7536

1056

1760

15122 105114

a limit of fish of limit a

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of % 8.7

42.4

36.3

80.3

55.4

29.6

39.0

45.1

21.6 39.5

at least 1 fish 1 least at

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of %

80.3

86.5

86.4

85.7

76.4

89.4

80.3

78.4

66.8 40.6

No. of anglers of No.

713

123

111

220

1779 12159

tournaments

No. of of No. 1

339

Club No. Club

a day is defined as one angler fishingfor angler hours as day10 defined one is a

GrandTotal Table 3. Cont'd. 3. Table 16 a Table 4. Clubs supporting the 2017 B.A.I.T. annual report.

Club Name Club Number City State Representative Phone

4:19 Bass Club 6 Clanton AL Mike Graham 205-294-1882 Alabama Association of General Contractors 26 Irondale AL Josh West 205-451-1400 Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation 32 Birmingham AL Eddie Plemons 205-979-3526 Alabama Bass Federation 9 Prattville AL Jim Sparrow 334-201-4135 Alabama Bass Trail 16 Decatur AL Clay Baldis 256-309-9852 Alabama Children's Classic Bass Tournament 29 Eufaula AL Sam Williams 334-355-5057 Ala-Tenn Bass Club 7 Lawrenceburg TN Jonathan Edwards 931-762-5531 Bass Boat Central (N. AL) 10 Oneonta AL Derek Coburn 256-312-9161 BASS Southern Open 35 Birmingham AL Chris Bowes 407-557-0131 Bay Area Bassmasters 4 Robertsdale AL Joe Barnett 251-931-3025 Benning Bass Club 1 Fort Mitchell AL Cris Cox 706-570-0886 BFL Bama Division 31 Benton KY Robert Evans 270-252-1589 BFL Choo Choo Division 11 Benton KY Alan Gray 270-703-5441 Bluff City Bassmasters 33 Eufaula AL Jim Howard 334-616-1918 Boyd's Marine Tournament Trail 15 Dothan AL Bill Knight 334-441-8421 Brookwood Bass Club 30 Tuscaloosa AL James Steadman 205-792-9194 Carbon Hill Bass Club 21 Eldridge AL Mark Edmonds 205-389-2505 Christian Bassmen of Montgomery 40 Pike Road AL Brian Selix 334-328-8163 Collinsville Bass Club 22 Collinsville MS George Little 601-513-0429 Dannelly Air National Guard 8 Prattville AL Jim Sparrow 334-201-4135 Dixie Bass Trail 27 Saraland AL Ernest Rachel 251-599-3727 Fayette Bass Club 37 Bankston AL Todd Tucker Fishers of Men - Alabama South 13 Brewton AL Allen Couch 251-867-9852 Fishers of Men Alabama Central 20 Notasulga AL Walt Higgins 334-283-5515 Fishing Buddies 36 Bessemer AL Roger Fields 205-497-3262 Georgia DNR 44 Social Circle GA Clint Peacock 478-988-7191 Goldsmith Sunday River Tournament 17 Lowndesboro AL Robert Brown 334-850-0338 Hawg Wild Bass Tour 14 Panama City FL Jerry Harvey 850-819-2719 Kowaliga 39 Tallassee AL Hank Golden 334-354-3387 Lake Guntersville Bass Masters 38 Grant AL Pete Pinkerton 530-604-2215 Lowndes Rebel Club 18 Lowndesboro AL Robert Brown 334-850-0338 Mediabass AL 28 Petal MS Allen Stephens 601-624-6647 Miss. Div. Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks 41 Tupelo MS Stan Crider 601-432-2400 Mobile Bass Association 42 Mobile AL Robin Clark 251-605-3073 Mobile Bassmasters 5 Mobile AL Bob Steele 251-661-9600 Mobile Boat Show Bass Tournament 43 Mobile AL Robin Clark 251-605-3073 National Bass Trail (GA/AL) 34 Cataula GA Blaine Souerwine 706-577-6874 Northport Bass Club 19 Northport AL Robert Findlay 205-339-5546 Pine Level Bassmasters 12 Prattville AL Jim Sparrow 334-201-4135 Ridgecrest Baptist Youth 24 Tuscaloosa AL Brad Hamilton 205-553-9063 Rumbling Waters B.A.S.S. Club 2 Eclectic AL Tomy Gamble Southern Masters 3 Mobile AL Robin Clark 251-605-3073 Team Share the Gospel 23 Chatom AL Rev. Howard Gaston 251-232-1940 Weiss Lake Bassmasters 25 Oneonta AL Derek Coburn 256-312-9161

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

Days

to catch a a catch to 23

16 16 a

bass over 5 lb. 5 over bass

Hrs. to catch a a catch to Hrs.

229

139

461

574

865

276

201

195

327

245

127

163 161

Pounds per day per Pounds

7.46

7.43

5.13

5.37

7.86

6.88

9.21

7.48

8.60

8.65

7.96 10.79

Bass per day per Bass

3.47

3.94

4.29

2.80

2.68

4.45

3.62

3.96

3.51

3.50

3.58

3.67 3.88

least 1 fish) 1 least

(anglers w/ at at w/ (anglers

% success success % 80.32

85.71

87.48

83.13

75.55

77.78

78.40

84.28

80.24

79.59

79.38

80.57 85.76

weight

Avg. winning winning Avg.

14.35

16.66

12.13

12.64

12.11

11.49

13.26

15.84

14.24

14.97

17.32

16.37 13.67

weight

Avg. big bass bass big Avg.

4.87

5.25

4.45

4.42

4.18

4.24

4.76

4.82

4.63

5.20

5.68

5.50 4.63

Bass over 8lb. over Bass

29 16

Bass over 5lb. over Bass

419 130

weight

Avg. bass bass Avg.

2.16

2.74

1.73

1.83

2.01

1.77

1.90

2.33

2.13

2.14

2.42

2.35 2.05

bass

Total lbs. of of lbs. Total

1352

3082

4962

7235

1520

3071

9233

9327

1927

79296

10074

14102 13409

released alive released

Percent of bass bass of Percent 96

100

100 100

% smallmouth %

2.4

0.0

0.2

0.8

0.1

0.5

1.8

0.9

0.0

0.5

4.3

0.2 12.4

% spotted bass spotted %

46.2

42.8

64.3

54.5

58.2

61.7

45.5

38.9

48.9

48.2

21.4

46.3 50.3

% largemouth %

51.4

57.2

35.4

44.7

41.8

37.7

52.7

60.2

51.1

51.4

66.2

49.4 49.6

caught

Total bass bass Total

494

860

939

1779

2705

3608

1618

3965

4722

6590

5539

3965 36784

Total hrs. fished hrs. Total

1253

4149

9664

1933

4466

2421

13468

10024

13472

18855

14622

10790 105114

a limit of fish of limit a

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of %

42.4

50.4

58.6

31.2

23.3

57.0

48.3

55.2

42.1

43.6

42.9

45.1 43.4

at least 1 fish 1 least at

% of anglers w/ w/ anglers of %

80.3

85.7

87.5

83.1

75.5

77.8

78.4

84.3

80.2

79.6

79.4

80.6 85.8

No. of anglers of No.

133

503

810

270

551

295

1599

1177

1564

2180

1770

1307 12159

tournaments

No. of of No. 8

339

JUL

DEC

SEP

JUN

FEB

JAN

OCT

APR

NOV

AUG

MAY

MAR

Month

a day is defined as one angler fishingfor angler hours as day10 defined one is a

GrandTotal Table 5. Statew ide summary of bass tournaments by month for bass clubs participating in the 2017 B.A.I.T. Program. B.A.I.T. 2017 the for in bass byof clubsmonth participating bass Statew 5. tournaments summary ide Table 18 a

Table 6. Summary of bass tournaments by lake and month for bass clubs participating in the 2017 B.A.I.T. Program.

No. of of No. tournaments anglers of No. %success (anglersat w/ fish) 1 least hrs. Total fished bass Total caught %largemouth bass% spotted %smallmouth bass of Percent alive released bass of lbs. Total bass Avg. weight Bassover 5lb. Bassover 8lb. bass big Avg. weight winning Avg. weight Bassperday perday Pounds Hrs.catch to a bassover lb. 5 Lake Month

Eufaula JAN ...... FEB 3 54 77.8 494 154 82.5 17.5 0.0 97 355 2.30 8 0 6.45 17.18 3.12 7.18 62 MAR 7 555 72.6 4208 1537 80.2 19.8 0.0 99 4174 2.72 53 2 6.44 20.27 2.92 7.93 111 APR 8 372 69.9 3452 845 93.6 6.4 0.0 98 1999 2.37 23 0 5.63 18.99 2.45 5.79 123 MAY 2 62 95.2 504 184 19.2 80.8 0.0 92 401 2.18 3 0 5.83 14.82 3.65 7.95 168 JUN 1 56 96.4 448 234 . . . 97 585 2.50 7 0 6.09 21.31 5.22 13.05 64 JUL 1 6 100.0 54 15 100.0 0.0 0.0 100 45 3.01 0 0 4.16 20.25 2.78 8.36 . AUG 1 5 100.0 45 16 87.5 12.5 0.0 94 40 2.50 0 0 4.69 16.87 3.56 8.88 . SEP 2 35 68.6 280 75 56.0 44.0 0.0 100 126 1.68 2 0 6.26 14.21 2.68 4.50 140 OCT 3 35 57.1 272 52 71.2 28.8 0.0 98 89 1.70 1 0 3.85 10.77 1.92 3.26 272 NOV 1 5 60.0 40 8 87.5 12.5 0.0 100 13 1.63 0 0 2.96 6.22 2.00 3.25 . DEC 1 20 95.0 320 116 81.9 18.1 0.0 100 282 2.43 3 2 8.49 24.11 3.63 8.81 107

Guntersville JAN ...... FEB 3 368 64.1 3008 590 100.0 0.0 0.0 100 1757 2.98 16 2 7.06 26.10 1.96 5.84 188 MAR 2 230 57.0 1840 298 83.3 16.7 0.0 100 877 2.94 22 11 7.42 25.32 1.62 4.77 84 APR 4 302 73.5 2746 709 81.4 18.6 0.0 99 1882 2.65 7 0 7.71 18.47 2.58 6.85 307 MAY 6 369 74.5 3431 834 86.3 13.7 0.0 96 2195 2.63 16 0 5.19 15.59 2.43 6.40 214 JUN 2 204 71.1 1728 602 57.0 41.0 2.0 98 1657 2.75 13 0 6.28 30.45 3.48 9.59 133 JUL 1 19 73.7 152 36 . . . . 102 2.83 2 0 6.69 . 2.37 6.71 76 AUG ...... SEP 2 184 67.4 1472 335 . . . . 881 2.63 4 0 . 14.66 2.28 5.99 368 OCT 6 102 72.5 864 180 97.9 2.1 0.0 100 482 2.68 5 0 4.84 13.72 2.08 5.57 117 NOV ...... DEC 1 10 70.0 80 13 76.9 23.1 0.0 100 28 2.12 0 0 3.75 11.44 1.63 3.44 .

Jones Bluff JAN ...... FEB 2 42 88.1 320 130 13.7 86.3 0.0 100 260 2.00 3 0 5.18 15.43 4.07 8.12 107 MAR 2 46 78.3 378 177 . . . 100 452 2.55 4 0 5.70 18.65 4.68 11.96 95 APR ...... MAY 2 228 71.1 1840 760 34.5 65.5 0.0 97 1336 1.76 0 0 4.27 13.04 4.13 7.26 . JUN 1 6 83.3 60 17 47.1 52.9 0.0 88 25 1.46 0 0 . 8.57 2.83 4.14 . JUL 1 8 62.5 64 20 20.0 80.0 0.0 100 34 1.70 0 0 3.35 11.57 3.13 5.30 . AUG 2 25 84.0 188 82 18.3 81.7 0.0 100 121 1.48 0 0 3.90 10.59 4.37 6.45 . SEP 1 5 100.0 40 21 . . . 100 33 1.55 0 0 2.75 9.50 5.25 8.13 . OCT 1 7 85.7 56 27 . . . 100 44 1.63 0 0 3.06 9.50 4.82 7.86 . NOV 1 6 100.0 48 29 . . . 100 54 1.84 0 0 4.13 12.13 6.04 11.15 . DEC 1 12 100.0 96 51 13.7 86.3 0.0 100 99 1.93 0 0 3.56 13.56 5.31 10.26 .

Jordan JAN 1 10 80.0 80 29 . . . 100 62 2.15 0 0 4.02 16.02 3.63 7.80 . FEB 1 224 96.0 1792 1012 32.6 67.4 0.0 100 2667 2.64 5 0 6.21 24.95 5.65 14.89 358 MAR ...... APR 2 23 91.3 207 73 26.0 74.0 0.0 100 162 2.22 0 0 4.54 14.16 3.53 7.84 . MAY 1 17 82.4 136 48 16.7 83.3 0.0 100 86 1.80 0 0 3.75 11.56 3.53 6.34 . JUN ...... JUL 2 32 56.3 268 42 19.0 81.0 0.0 69 69 1.65 0 0 2.67 8.54 1.57 2.59 . AUG ...... SEP 1 9 66.7 79 13 7.7 92.3 0.0 100 20 1.55 0 0 2.18 7.46 1.65 2.55 . OCT 1 25 80.0 225 30 . . . 100 73 2.45 0 0 5.06 13.16 1.33 3.26 . NOV 1 8 75.0 68 16 18.8 81.3 0.0 100 28 1.73 0 0 2.96 10.38 2.35 4.08 . DEC ......

1a day is defined as one angler fishing for 10 hours 19

Table 6. Cont'd.

Lay JAN ...... FEB ...... MAR ...... APR 4 173 89.6 1523 636 42.3 57.7 0.0 98 1379 2.17 6 0 4.52 14.96 4.18 9.05 254 MAY 2 19 94.7 170 67 20.0 80.0 0.0 97 106 1.58 0 0 3.71 12.05 3.94 6.24 . JUN 2 221 72.4 1768 714 38.5 61.5 0.0 98 1502 2.10 4 0 4.78 15.44 4.04 8.50 442 JUL ...... AUG 2 15 80.0 141 53 24.5 75.5 0.0 100 109 2.06 1 0 7.06 12.02 3.76 7.74 141 SEP 3 79 94.9 1128 453 31.9 68.1 0.0 97 733 1.62 2 0 4.51 11.67 4.02 6.50 564 OCT 2 18 77.8 131 33 63.6 36.4 0.0 79 49 1.49 0 0 3.58 9.35 2.52 3.75 . NOV 1 7 100.0 56 31 . . . 100 59 1.89 0 0 3.19 13.19 5.54 10.45 . DEC ......

Logan Martin JAN 1 22 100.0 198 104 18.3 81.7 0.0 100 193 1.85 0 0 4.79 13.62 5.25 9.72 . FEB 1 89 98.9 801 390 . . . 100 730 1.87 0 0 4.88 19.88 4.87 9.11 . MAR ...... APR 3 26 100.0 208 112 11.6 88.4 0.0 94 167 1.49 0 0 3.63 9.89 5.38 8.04 . MAY 1 14 92.9 112 55 45.5 54.5 0.0 91 82 1.49 0 0 3.02 11.32 4.91 7.32 . JUN ...... JUL 1 17 100.0 136 70 21.4 78.6 0.0 83 100 1.44 0 0 4.26 11.62 5.15 7.39 . AUG 1 18 100.0 144 72 11.1 88.9 0.0 94 103 1.43 0 0 3.64 10.38 5.00 7.17 . SEP 3 24 100.0 198 82 25.6 74.4 0.0 100 127 1.55 0 0 2.85 8.89 4.15 6.43 . OCT 3 344 91.1 5384 1486 34.7 65.3 0.0 98 2576 1.73 4 0 4.79 14.29 2.76 4.78 1346 NOV ...... DEC ......

Martin JAN 6 110 95.5 855 370 35.9 64.1 0.0 100 539 1.46 0 0 3.34 9.74 4.33 6.30 . FEB 1 7 100.0 56 35 . . . 100 66 1.88 1 0 5.13 10.38 6.25 11.78 56 MAR 3 58 93.1 464 254 6.3 93.8 0.0 100 443 1.75 0 0 3.88 12.38 5.47 9.55 . APR 3 305 93.8 2456 1408 47.1 52.9 0.0 99 2303 1.64 3 0 4.60 12.12 5.73 9.38 819 MAY ...... JUN ...... JUL ...... AUG ...... SEP ...... OCT 2 20 100.0 340 140 19.3 80.7 0.0 91 207 1.48 0 0 2.63 . 4.12 6.09 . NOV 7 311 88.4 2508 1065 22.3 77.7 0.0 100 1797 1.69 2 0 4.54 12.03 4.25 7.17 1254 DEC 1 10 80.0 85 39 12.8 87.2 0.0 100 70 1.79 0 0 3.21 11.20 4.59 8.20 .

Mobile Delta JAN 3 30 93.3 264 112 100.0 0.0 0.0 100 171 1.52 0 0 3.30 10.92 4.25 6.48 . FEB 4 46 91.3 412 176 83.0 17.0 0.0 100 313 1.78 3 0 3.89 11.11 4.28 7.62 137 MAR 4 162 90.7 1869 971 100.0 0.0 0.0 99 1746 1.80 2 0 4.73 13.67 5.20 9.34 935 APR 1 10 100.0 90 24 100.0 0.0 0.0 42 37 1.53 0 0 3.26 10.39 2.67 4.09 . MAY 4 132 83.3 1113 483 96.0 4.0 0.0 58 888 1.84 0 0 4.21 13.51 4.34 7.98 . JUN 4 77 85.7 652 259 100.0 0.0 0.0 24 448 1.73 1 0 2.83 10.65 3.98 6.88 652 JUL 2 72 79.2 584 252 98.2 1.8 0.0 95 455 1.81 1 0 4.56 13.94 4.32 7.79 584 AUG 3 104 89.4 808 447 100.0 0.0 0.0 52 802 1.79 0 0 4.40 11.34 5.53 9.93 . SEP 6 208 79.8 1669 762 90.2 9.8 0.0 99 1363 1.79 1 0 4.05 12.38 4.57 8.17 1669 OCT 2 24 91.7 204 79 98.7 1.3 0.0 72 120 1.52 0 0 3.16 9.96 3.87 5.87 . NOV 4 82 90.2 687 348 100.0 0.0 0.0 100 516 1.48 1 0 4.01 11.24 5.07 7.52 687 DEC 1 11 90.9 77 41 100.0 0.0 0.0 100 73 1.78 0 0 4.08 13.68 5.32 9.48 .

1a day is defined as one angler fishing for 10 hours 20

Table 6. Cont'd.

Mitchell JAN 1 15 93.3 128 59 84.7 15.3 0.0 100 108 1.84 0 0 4.05 12.63 4.63 8.50 . FEB ...... MAR 2 186 93.0 1488 737 23.6 76.4 0.0 100 1493 2.03 3 0 5.53 17.07 4.95 10.03 496 APR 5 89 98.9 808 403 21.5 78.5 0.0 98 786 1.95 0 0 4.10 13.35 4.99 9.73 . MAY 2 13 100.0 123 40 25.0 75.0 0.0 95 72 1.79 0 0 3.11 11.65 3.25 5.82 . JUN 2 17 94.1 164 52 26.9 73.1 0.0 94 100 1.92 0 0 4.47 12.02 3.17 6.10 . JUL 1 9 44.4 63 7 . . . 100 12 1.64 0 0 2.69 5.94 1.11 1.83 . AUG ...... SEP ...... OCT 3 45 80.0 382 124 11.1 88.9 0.0 100 208 1.68 0 0 3.88 10.48 3.25 5.46 . NOV ...... DEC 1 8 75.0 68 16 0.0 100.0 0.0 100 23 1.45 0 0 3.34 6.37 2.35 3.42 .

Neely Henry JAN ...... FEB 1 10 90 90 24 42 58 0 100 46 2 1 0 5 11 3 5 90 MAR ...... APR 1 12 100.0 108 40 30.0 70.0 0.0 98 73 1.84 0 0 4.13 15.63 3.70 6.80 . MAY 1 190 84.7 1520 742 34.5 65.5 0.0 99 1384 1.86 3 0 5.72 16.64 4.88 9.10 507 JUN 2 118 92.4 1062 416 76.0 24.0 0.0 95 812 1.95 2 0 5.28 19.00 3.92 7.65 531 JUL 3 227 84.6 1852 747 54.7 45.3 0.0 95 1275 1.71 3 0 4.69 12.39 4.03 6.89 533 AUG 2 15 80.0 120 36 66.7 33.3 0.0 94 58 1.62 0 0 3.71 12.01 3.00 4.87 . SEP 1 11 90.9 88 41 51.2 48.8 0.0 100 54 1.31 0 0 3.10 8.25 4.66 6.10 . OCT ...... NOV ...... DEC ......

Pickw ick JAN 4 65 81.5 553 208 . . . . 744 3.58 14 2 8.43 23.24 3.76 13.47 39 FEB 3 70 62.9 578 176 . . . . 536 3.04 9 0 6.58 19.69 3.04 9.27 64 MAR 4 305 82.3 2493 882 40.7 9.9 49.4 99 2756 3.12 28 3 7.69 25.09 3.54 11.06 89 APR 11 546 68.1 4656 1055 74.1 2.5 23.5 . 2800 2.65 19 2 6.56 16.44 2.27 6.01 103 MAY 6 363 78.0 3086 917 . . . . 2441 2.66 8 0 6.27 19.50 2.97 7.91 51 JUN 10 316 91.5 2672 1097 63.6 30.3 6.1 98 2949 2.69 7 0 5.23 18.91 4.11 11.04 122 JUL 4 77 76.6 668 220 82.8 0.0 17.2 92 623 2.83 12 0 6.40 20.63 3.30 9.33 56 AUG 1 6 83.3 51 25 . . . . 61 2.44 6 0 6.38 20.13 4.90 11.96 9 SEP 5 199 70.4 1692 401 . . . . 979 2.44 . . . 14.35 2.37 5.79 . OCT 3 100 79.0 850 222 88.7 4.8 6.5 100 547 2.46 2 1 6.90 14.57 2.61 6.44 425 NOV 1 30 70.0 255 88 . . . . 259 2.94 4 0 7.78 21.83 3.45 10.14 64 DEC 2 62 83.9 527 218 . . . . 779 3.57 6 1 7.80 26.46 4.14 14.77 88

Smith JAN 1 22 59.1 176 27 14.8 85.2 0.0 100 54 2.01 0 0 3.82 . 1.53 3.08 . FEB 1 11 63.6 99 31 6.5 93.5 0.0 100 68 2.20 0 0 3.63 14.50 3.13 6.89 . MAR 1 27 66.7 216 60 . . . . 83 1.38 0 0 2.88 9.13 2.78 3.83 . APR 1 199 93.0 1592 874 40.7 59.3 0.0 98 1747 2.00 3 0 6.27 17.09 5.49 10.97 531 MAY ...... JUN ...... JUL ...... AUG ...... SEP 6 724 74.3 5792 1053 38.7 61.3 0.0 97 2264 2.15 0 0 4.50 15.25 1.82 3.91 . OCT 2 32 90.6 436 112 14.3 85.7 0.0 98 183 1.64 0 0 3.50 . 2.57 4.20 . NOV ...... DEC ......

1a day is defined as one angler fishing for 10 hours 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Other Topics

TOURNAMENT PERMITS illegal. If tournament organizations want to continue to offer these The Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries does not types of tournaments to their competitors, they are certainly free to do require tournament organizations to secure tournament permits for any of so as long as the fish brought in from other reservoirs are not their events. However, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), released there. If you participate in one of these tournaments, do not Department of Public Safety (DPS), Marine Patrol requires a Marine Event release your fish into a lake you did not catch them from. Your Permit for any event (including bass tournaments) with more than 100 fish can be eaten, donated to a charitable organization such as an boats participating. Applications can be obtained from the ALEA Marine orphanage, or returned to the reservoir from which they were caught. Patrol free of charge by calling (334) 242-3630, and must be completed Fish can only be moved legally from one reservoir to another if they and submitted to them at least 15 days prior to the event. are transported by boat through a navigable lock. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also requires a Special Use

Permit for bass tournaments with more than 10 boats which are held on CATCH-AND-RELEASE any of their reservoirs. Corps permits must be submitted 30 days prior to Access area creel surveys conducted by Wildlife & Freshwater the event, and can be obtained from your local project office or from their Fisheries biologists have revealed a significant decline in bass website at: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil- harvest rates, statewide. In 2017, nearly 100% of all bass caught Works/Recreation/. from public waters were released.

As the catch-and-release ethic has evolved during the last 25 CORPS OF ENGINEERS ANNUAL DAY USE PERMITS years due to intense promotion by tournament organizations and Annual passes can be obtained from the guard station at all park participants, many well-intentioned anglers have become so entrances, or by contacting your local Corp of Engineers Resources passionate about this angling ethic that they feel a moral obligation to Management office. These passes allow you to use any boat ramp release every bass they catch, which often leads them to make some operated and maintained by the Corps of Engineers, nationwide. The poor choices with regard to the handling of their fish. charge for these permits is $40 and is good for one year from the date of An unfortunate consequence of catch-and-release is that purchase. Local and regional offices are listed below. tournament anglers are often so focused on releasing their fish alive,

that they sometimes fail to recognize when a fish is too far gone to Alabama River Lakes Site Office (Hayneville) 334-872-9554 survive the stress. Making this mistake can result in numerous dead Millers Ferry Resource Office (Camden) 334-682-4244 fish floating in the water around the boat ramp the following day. The Holt Resource Office (Peterson) 205-553-9373 number of complaints received by ADCNR accusing tournament Black Warrior/Tombigbee Project Mgmt. Office (Tuscaloosa) 205-752-3571 anglers of killing and wasting fish during organized bass tournaments Demopolis Site Office (Demopolis) 334-289-3540 is on the rise, so please encourage your anglers to be aware of this Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Office (Carrollton) 205-373-8705 growing problem, and consider adopting tournament rules that

discourage the release of fish in poor condition following bass TRAILER TOURNAMENTS tournaments. Any tournaments where rules permit anglers to fish in various water bodies and then bring their catch to a particular lake for a weigh-in where fish are then released alive into that body of water are in direct violation of Alabama’s Public Water Stocking (220-2-.129) regulation. Moving live fish from one lake to another can have a number of detrimental consequences; examples include 1) moving fish caught from lakes with consumption advisories into lakes without advisories, 2) introducing genetically inferior strains of spotted bass into our world-class spotted bass fisheries of the Coosa River, 3) introducing diseases such as the Largemouth Bass Virus which decimated many of our bass fisheries in Alabama beginning in the late 1990’s, 4) diluting the genetic benefits of our Florida bass stocking program, and 5) introducing non-native, potentially harmful species into lakes where they do not currently exist. It is important for anglers to know that only the act of releasing fish into a body of water other than where they were caught is

31 Tournament Website www.outdooralabama.com/tournaments

Type the above link into your web browser to access the improved “Fishing Tournaments” webpage where you can post your tournaments or view those posted by other organizations.

Click here to post information about your tournament, then . . . enter your tournament information including contacts, a link to your website, or even a copy of the registration form.

Select from these options to search all tournaments being held statewide.

Please let other tournament anglers know about this website, and if you have questions or comments call 334-242-3471.

This website exists for your convenience and we welcome any suggestions you might have that would improve this valuable tool.

32 New Online BAIT Reporting System tournaments.dcnr.alabama.gov Type the above link into your web browser to access the new online BAIT Reporting System where you can easily submit your tournament catch data.

This system is an additional option for submitting BAIT tournament reports. Anglers can still email their reports to [email protected] by using the Excel file found at outdooralabama.com/tournaments or by mailing in paper BAIT cards to 3608 Fairground Rd., Montgomery, AL 36110. If you would like copies of the paper cards or have any questions, please call 334-242-3471. The BAIT program is a valuable fisheries management tool. Without the support of tournament anglers and organizers, this program would not exist. THANK YOU!

33 Boating Access

The Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries maintains Pollard (Conecuh River) 114 public boating access areas statewide. Several of these facilities This project was completed winter of 2017. ADCNR partnered with received upgrades during 2017. For more information on ADCNR Escambia County to provide a modern boating access facility on the freshwater boating access, visit boatramps.dcnr.alabama.gov/. Conecuh River near Pollard (9 miles south of Brewton, AL). The Leesburg (Weiss) new facility includes a 15’ wide launching slab and parking for 17 ADCNR is working with the Town of Leesburg to renovate and provide a truck / trailer rigs. It provides access on a stretch of the Conecuh major boat ramp facility on Weiss Lake (Coosa River). Phase I will be River that is void of comparable access for miles upstream and completed by summer of 2018 and phase II will be completed fall of 2020. downstream. Phase I includes construction of a new 60’ wide launching slab, paved Smith Lake Park (Smith) entrance and exit roads with make ready and tie down areas, paved Major renovations to Smith Lake Park Boat Ramp broke ground in parking for 263 truck / trailer rigs and construction of two 50’ floating piers. 2017. ADCNR is working with Cullman Co. to expand the facility to Phase II will include a 412’ wharf style pier with 18 finger piers. The pier handle most local and regional fishing tournaments. Phase I will be will accommodate 36 vessels at once. The Town of Leesburg will be completed spring of 2018 and will include a 90’wide launching slab responsible for ordinary maintenance. (6 lanes), paved parking for 113 truck/ trailer rigs and 10 cars (with make ready and tie down areas). The final phase is scheduled to begin fall of 2018. Improvements include: security lighting, paved overflow parking for 70 truck /trailer rigs, one 45’ stationary aluminum pier, two floating aluminum piers (225’ and 170’) and a fixed aluminum pedestrian bridge connecting the overflow and main parking areas. ADCNR leases the property from Cullman Co., who will handle routine maintenance.

New ramp construction at Leesburg

Canoe Creek (Neely Henry) ADCNR partnered with St. Clair Co. to provide a modern boat ramp on Neely Henry (Coosa River). The property is leased to ADCNR by St. Clair County. The facility is capable of hosting most major fishing tournaments. Located east of Rainbow City, the facility includes a 60’ wide launching Renovation at Smith Lake Park slab, paved parking for 80 truck / trailer rigs, make ready and tie down areas, two 100’ floating piers and two fixed boardwalk piers. The design Others allows users to effectively launch and retrieve boats at a fast pace during Shelby County began clearing and grading for a new overflow high use periods. St. Clair Co. is responsible for all ordinary maintenance. parking lot at Beeswax (Lay), which will increase the truck / trailer parking from 71 to 155. ADCNR plans to pave and stripe the new lot in 2018. Alabama Power Company constructed new sidewalks to adjoin the existing access piers at Pace’s Point (Martin), Hwy. 48 Bridge (Harris) and Glover’s Ferry (Lay) access areas. ADCNR constructed two new access piers (5’x 50’ and 5’x 60’) to replace flood damaged piers at Cliff’s Landing (Mobile Delta), repaved the head of the ramp to provide smooth access to the launching slab at Honeycomb Creek (Guntersville), installed handrails at Lion’s Park (Smith) and replaced the launching slab at Pride Station Landing (Pickwick) to provide easier access during winter pool. All New facility at Canoe Creek new boat landings and renovations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design. 34

Habitat Enhancement

Habitat is a pillar that allows all organisms to thrive. As our List of habitat projects completed in 2017 reservoirs continue to age, we need to curtail loss of habitat and explore Waterbody Type Amount Install Date ways to effectively manage our watersheds for the benefit of our natural resources and the public. Our program intends to efficiently attract fish Neely Henry Spiderblocks 100 Apr. 2017 in our state’s reservoirs, produce more fish if habitat is a limiting factor in Holt Bamboo 9 May 2017 a particular waterbody, improve water quality in our streams, rivers and Jordan Porcupine®Fish Attractors 50 Jul. 2017 reservoirs, and monitor effectiveness. Our efforts should increase angler Martin Porcupine®Fish Attractors 35 Aug. 2017 success, improve fishery health, water quality and contribute research Martin Spiderblocks 15 Aug. 2017 data and ideas for use by other resource managers. Lay Spiderblocks 30 Aug. 2017 In 2017, the Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Team Gainesville Cedar trees 50 Dec. 2017 completed a number of reservoir habitat restoration projects, and prepared for many upcoming enhancement activities. Since the first Point A Spiderblocks 50 Dec. 2017 year of the program (2015) over 3,700 fish attractors have been installed Point A Pea gravel substrate 0.25 ac. Dec. 2017 throughout the state. Smith Water willow establishment 0.5 ac. Mar. 2017 While most of the projects have focused on fish attraction (i.e. Harris Water willow establishment 0.5 ac. Mar. 2017 artificial structures), other projects are aimed to enhance fish production. Martin Buttonbush establishment 750 Aug. 2017 The Environmental Affairs Division of Alabama Power Co. and other Smith Buttonbush establishment 600 Aug. 2017 partners have assisted with many projects, including transplanting native American water willow (Justicia americana) on Martin and Smith Weiss Buttonbush establishment 1000 Aug. 2017 Reservoirs), as well as buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) on West Point Buttonbush establishment 200 Aug. 2017 Martin, Smith, West Point, Logan Martin and Weiss Reservoirs. These Logan Martin Buttonbush establishment 300 Aug. 2017 projects will greatly enhance aquatic habitat, providing cover for juvenile Mitchell Christmas trees 250 Feb. 2017 fishes and nesting cover for largemouth bass. Reservoirs selected for Jordan Christmas trees 150 Feb. 2017 aquatic vegetation enhancement operate on an annual drawdown Smith Christmas trees 150 Mar. 2017 schedule. These unstable water levels are not conducive for “natural” Martin Christmas trees 150 Mar. 2017 establishment of aquatic vegetation, therefore, efforts to transplant native vegetation are ongoing. We expect that placing these plants in Visit the Outdoor Alabama Interactive Map on the web the “drawdown zone” will coax them into long-term colonization. (conservationgis.alabama.gov/dcnr/) to view detailed structure locations. Coordinates can be downloaded at http://www.outdooralabama.com/freshwater-fishing/where-fish-alabama.

Buttonbush ready for transplanting

A successfully planted water willow site Planted Buttonbush on Smith Lake Spiderblocks installed during Point A Reservoir drawdown 35 Habitat Enhancement

Newly planted water willow on Lake Martin

Artificial fish attractors ready for installation on Lake Jordan

36 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the participating bass clubs, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks for their genuine interest in this program and their willingness to take a proactive approach to managing bass fisheries in Alabama’s reservoirs. Without their cooperation, assistance, and enthusiasm, this program would not be possible. The mission of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division is to manage, protect, conserve and enhance the wildlife and aquatic resources of Alabama for the sustainable benefit of the people of Alabama.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, pregnancy, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, or disability in its hiring or employment practices nor in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.

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